Midlife Brain Fog and Overwhelm? Here are 4 Tips to Become More Productive TODAY

If midlife brain fog and constant overwhelm have you feeling cray, I have 4 tips that you can put to work RIGHT NOW to help you have your most productive week yet.

1. Stop MULTI-TASKING. I know, I know, you are saying “But Steph, that is the ONLY way I can get stuff done!” Look, I know that we have been told (especially moms), that multi-tasking is a superpower, but I am going to squash that myth once and for all. When you are doing two (or more) things at once, you are actually “task-switching”. Research shows that task-switching is actually COSTING you time because your brain constantly has to “reset” to the tasks and it actually causes more ERRORS which may mean you have to go back and fix things. Bottom line: work on one task at a time. While on this subject, I want to focus specifically on EMAIL. Do you leave your email open all day long, responding to every email as it comes in? This could be costing you a lot of productivity due to task-switching. Try checking your email 3 times a day at SPECIFIC times each day (keep reading for tips on how to block time for this).
2. Reduce distractions. Technology can be really distracting, but there are ways that technology can really help us to keep on task. I highly recommend downloading the app “Tomato Timer”, which is a way to implement a focusing method called “The Pomodoro Technique”. The Pomodoro Technique is a time-management system that uses time blocking. You focus on a task for 25 minutes and then take a short 5 minute break. That one block of 30 minutes is called a “pomodoro”. After 4 pomodoros, you take a longer 15 minute break. Try putting your phone in airplane mode and just using your Tomato timer and see just how focused and productive you can be today!
3. “I’ve got a blank space baby….. “and I’ll write MY name”. This tip is all about having white space on your calendar. Taking control of your calendar is the best way to increase your productivity. Get to your calendar before someone else does!!! Schedule time in between meetings for yourself so that you are able to process meeting notes, brainstorm new ideas, read up on innovative solutions to issues, and just let your “brain breathe”. You can also schedule time during the day for movement – a 10 minute walk can really improve productivity and focus. The idea is – you control your day as much as possible so that you can get the most out of it. Don’t leave your calendar up to chance (or someone else’s agenda!).
4. Call on your senses to help. There are 2 tips in one here… The first is what I call “the soundtrack of your day”, and what I mean by this is… use music to increase your focus and “flow”. There are some really great playlists on Spotify that can help you dive deep into your work. The first is the “Intense Studying” playlist, which is great for when you need to clean out your inbox. It’s all instrumental music, which is awesome for people like me who get easily distracted by great lyrics. The second playlist is called “Creativity Boost” and is awesome for brainstorming new and innovative ideas. In addition to music, your sense of smell can really boost your productivity. Research shows that essential oils such as peppermint and rosemary help with focus. I love to fire up my diffuser in the morning with combos such as peppermint and lime, rosemary and lavender, peppermint and orange…. There are so many amazing combos that you can put to work to improve your focus.

So, which of these tips will YOU implement today? I would love to hear from you! Let me know how your week goes when you put these powerful tips to work by leaving a comment!